DEVICE FOR OBTAINING WATER HEATED AT A TEMPERATURE EQUAL TO OR LOWER THAN 45 °C AND STEAM ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE ORTHODOX JEWISH SABBATH

Document Type and Number:

WIPO Patent Application WO/2019/049181

Kind Code:

A1

Abstract:

A device (10) is described for obtaining water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45°C, comprising: a tank (2); heating means (25) to heat water contained in the tank (2) at a temperature much higher than 45 °C; an adapter (20) to cool boiling water going out of the tank (2); the tank (2) is connected to a thermostatic mixer (6); and the thermostatic mixer (6) is connected to the public hydraulic network and is equipped with an outlet duct (8) which is the outlet of hot water of the device (10), and with a thermostatic valve (11) to mix heated water coming from the tank (2) with water of the public hydraulic network.

1. Device (10) for obtaining water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45 °C, comprising :

a tank (2) connected by means of a first pipe (7) to the public hydraulic network;

heating means (25) adapted to heat water contained in said tank (2) at a temperature much higher than 45°C, so that steam is formed inside an upper part (2a) of the tank (2) to allow withdrawing water from the tank (2) replacing the withdrawn water volume with the high-pressure steam contained in the upper part (2a) of the tank (2) ; wherein the device (10) for obtaining heated water further comprises an adapter (20) assembled between the second outlet pipe (5) of hot water from the tank (2) and the thermostatic mixer (6) and connected to the first pipe (7) to use cold water flowing in the first pipe (7) to cool the boiling water going out of the tank (2) through the second pipe (5) cleaning it from steam residues, characterized in that:

- the tank (2) is connected through a second pipe (5) to a thermostatic mixer (6) ; and

the thermostatic mixer (6) is connected to the public hydraulic network through the first inlet pipe (7) and is equipped with an outlet duct (8) which is the outlet of hot water of the device (10) , and with a thermostatic valve (11) to mix heated water coming from the tank (2) with water of the public hydraulic network, to dose the amount of hot water entered in the thermostatic mixer (6) through the second pipe (5) to reach a temperature next to but lower than 45 °C at the outlet duct (8) . 2. Device (10) for obtaining water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45 °C according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter (20) comprises a second tank (21) hydraulically connected to the public hydraulic network by means of the first pipe (7) and to the thermostatic mixer (6) through a third pipe (12) for transporting water of the public hydraulic network from the adapter (20) to the thermostatic mixer (6) , the adapter (20) further comprising a fourth pipe (14) placed inside the second tank (21) and connected to the tank (2) by means of the second pipe (5) , and to the thermostatic mixer (6) through a fifth pipe (15) , on which the thermostatic valve (11) is placed, to transport boiling water going out of the tank (2) to the thermostatic mixer (6) .

3. Device (10) for obtaining water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45°C according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thermostatic mixer (6) is a thermostatic mixer of an accumulation type, namely comprises a certain volume, comprising an intermediate container (9) which follows it immediately after, connected through said first and second pipes (7, 5) respectively to the tank (2) and to the water network, and further comprises a probe (1) connected to the thermostatic valve (11) adapted to measure the temperature inside the mixer (6) and to handle said thermostatic valve (11) to dose the amount of hot water necessary to reach in the mixer (6) a temperature next to but lower than 45°C.

4. Device (10) for obtaining water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45°C according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that the device (10) for obtaining heated water comprises two water tanks obtained by dividing a single tank into two parts, the tank (2) containing boiling water and steam, and a second tank (21) which operates as adapter (20) to accumulate water at temperatures lower than 45°C hydraulically connected to the public hydraulic network by means of the first pipe (7) and to the thermostatic mixer (6) through a third pipe (12) for transporting water of the public hydraulic network from the second tank (21) to the thermostatic mixer (6) , said second tank (21) further comprising a radiator (22) placed therein and hydraulically connected to the tank (2) by means of the second pipe (5) , and to the thermostatic mixer (6) through a fifth pipe

(15) to transport boiling water going out of the tank (2) to the thermostatic mixer (6) .

5. Device (10) for obtaining water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45 °C according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a tap (31) for withdrawing hot water connected to the radiator (22) through a sixth pipe (16) to withdraw water at a temperature scarcely lower than 100 °C and therefore lacking steam.

6. Device (10) for obtaining water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45 °C according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a probe (1) in the second tank (21) adapted to detect the maximum temperature of 45 °C and close a second thermostatic valve (33) assembled on the sixth pipe

(16) , preventing a withdrawal of hot water from the tap (31) .

7. Device (10) for obtaining water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45 °C according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that it comprises two dry steam taps (32) for withdrawing dry steam connected to the upper part (2a) of the tank (2) , or connected to a demister (35) directly supplied by the second outlet pipe (5) of boiling water of the tank (2) .

Description:

DEVICE FOR OBTAINING WATER HEATED AT A TEMPERATURE

EQUAL TO OR LOWER THAN 45°C AND STEAM ACCORDING TO THE RULES OF THE ORTHODOX JEWISH SABBATH

The present invention refers to a device for obtaining water heated at a temperature lower than or equal to 45 °C and steam, for example adapted to heat beverages, without contravening to the behavioral rules of orthodox Jewish religion.

Regarding Sabbath, the Jewish religion imposes, among others, the observation of the two following rules:

1) hot water, during Sabbaths, must not be mixed with cold water, if the mixing result determines a temperature greater than 45 °C;

2) a human action, during Sabbaths, even if indirect, must not cause the turning on or turning off of electric units or of fire of boilers and the like .

Devices are known, which solve these problems by using boilers having a thermostat calibrated at a temperature next to 45 °C, so that cold water which enters the boiler is not heated at a temperature greater than 45°C.

The actuation of the thermostat is performed through a timer which periodically actuates the heat exchanger for an adequate period to compensate the thermal dispersion. At the same time, a probe, if detects a temperature lower than 45°C, extends the operation of the heat exchanger till such temperature is reached, and upon reaching it, the probe again actuates the timer and starts then again the cycle.

The human action of opening the tap, with this solution, does not actuate the operation of the heat exchanger, because it is actuated by a timer, for example every 7 minutes of stay, for a period of 5 seconds, enough for keeping the temperature, compensating the thermal dispersion.

The human action has only indirectly causes the extension of the operation, thereby complying with the behavioral rules of the orthodox Jewish religion .

These devices, however, are not satisfactory, and have the problem of being scarcely efficient, since the amount of heat accumulated at the temperature of 45 °C does not satisfy the family needs during the Jewish Sabbath.

Object of the present invention is solving the above prior art problems, by providing a device for obtaining water heated at a temperature lower than or equal to 45°C and steam for heating beverages, without contravening to the behavioral rules of the orthodox Jewish religion.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will result from the following description, are obtained with a device for obtaining water heated at a temperature lower than or equal to 45°C and steam, as claimed in Claim 1. Preferred embodiments and non-trivial variations of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims .

It is intended that all enclosed claims are an integral part of the present description.

It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations and modifications (for example related to shape, sizes, arrangements and part with equivalent functionality) can be made to what is described, without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the enclosed claims.

The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the device for obtaining heated water according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a sectional view of a part of an embodiment of the device for obtaining of heated water according to the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the device for obtaining heated water according to the present invention; and Figure 4 shows a sectional view of an embodiment of the device for obtaining heated water according to the present invention.

With reference to the Figures, the device 10 for obtaining heated water of the invention, which is adapted to obtain water heated at a temperature next to and lower than 45°C without contravening to Sabbath rules, comprises a tank 2 connected by means of a first pipe 7 to the public hydraulic network, and connected through a second pipe 5 to a thermostatic mixer 6, equipped with a thermostatic valve 11 to mix heated water coming from the tank 2 with water of the public hydraulic network, to dose the amount of hot water entered in the thermostatic mixer 6 through the second pipe 5 and to reach a temperature next to but lower than 45 °C; the thermostatic mixer 6 is in turn connected to the public hydraulic network through the first inlet pipe 7.

The device 10 for obtaining heated water further comprises heating means 25, for example a heat exchanger of a known type, adapted to heat water contained in said tank 2.

The thermostatic mixer 6 is connected to the public hydraulic network through the first inlet pipe 7 and to the tank 2 through a second pipe 5, and preferably comprises a probe 1 connected to the thermostatic valve 11, which constantly measures the temperature inside the mixer 6 and drives said thermostatic valve 11 to dose the amount of hot water necessary to reach, in the mixer 6, a temperature next to but lower than 45 °C.

The thermostatic mixer 6 further comprises an outlet duct 8, which is the outlet of hot water at a temperature next to but lower than 45°C of the device 10 of the invention, for obtaining heated water complying with the rules of the Orthodox Jewish Sabbath.

Preferably, the thermostatic mixer 6 is a thermostatic mixer of an accumulation type and comprises an intermediate container 9 which, in addition to having the function of thermostatic mixer, is an accumulation of water at an operating temperature. Said intermediate container 9 is connected, through said first and second pipes 7 and 5, respectively with the tank 2 and with the water network, and comprises the probe 1 connected to the thermostatic valve 11.

In the period preceding a Sabbath, water contained in the tank 2 is heated at a temperature much higher than 45°C, so that steam is formed inside an upper part 2a of the tank 2. In such conditions, withdrawing water dal tank 2 through the outlet duct 8, is possible due to the fact that the withdrawn water volume is replaced by the high- pressure steam which is contained in the upper part 2a of the water tank 2.

The thermostatic mixer of an accumulation type 6 will be calibrated so that the final mixing temperature is equal to or lower than 45 °C. To be able to operate by complying with the rules of the Jewish Sabbath, before the start of the Sabbath itself, one will have to perform the operations of filling the tank 2 with cold water, for example by controlling a solenoid valve, and heating water contained in the tank at a temperature much higher than 45 °C.

During Sabbaths, the thermostatic mixer is calibrated so that the final mixing temperature is equal to or lower than 45°C, allowing to comply with Sabbath rule n° 1, which forbids to mix hot water with cold water if the mixing result determines a temperature greater than 45 °C. Moreover, withdrawing water from the thermostatic mixer 6 through the outlet duct 8 is performed in order not to activate electric units or the fire of boilers and the like, to comply also with the second rule of the Jewish Sabbath.

For example, inside the tank 2, a pressure scarcely lower than 3 bars corresponds to a surface temperature of water of 140 °C. Taking water from the lower part of the tank 2, at a level difference of about 50 cm, corresponds to temperature of about 120 ° C .

When water goes out, pushed by the pressure of steam contained in the upper part 2a of the tank 2, the outlet water pressure decreases, lowering the water boiling point and producing again steam, which will replace the volume of withdrawn water, keeping the pressure approximately constant. At a given withdrawal of water and at a certain flow- rate, there will be a corresponding speed of production of steam directly proportional to the water surface temperature, which will be kept constant, for example by means of a thermocouple controller and a pressure sensor. The higher the temperature inside the tank 2, the greater the water flow-rate which can be withdrawn and the more efficient the mixing ratio with cold water in the thermostatic mixer 6, to take it at a temperature next to 45 °C, with a consequent greater amount of water withdrawable at such temperature.

With a tank 2 whose capacity is equal to 60 liters, by taking water at a temperature of 140 °C, 250 liters of mixed water are obtained, at a temperature next to 45°C and a flow-rate of 6 1/minute at a pressure of 3 bars.

Water exiting the tank 2 through the second pipe 5, finding itself at a high temperature and decreasing its pressure when exiting, contains steam which requires the use of thermostatic valves 11 which are more costly than those which can be normally found on the market .

In order to solve this problem, the device 10 for obtaining heated water of the invention comprises an adapter 20 assembled between the second outlet pipe 5 for hot water from the tank 2, and the thermostatic mixer 6; said adapter 20 is further connected to the first pipe 7 connected to the public hydraulic network and is adapted to use cold water which flows in the first pipe 7 to cool the boiling water going out of the tank 2 through the second pipe 5.

The adapter 20 comprises a second tank 21, hydraulically connected to the public hydraulic network by means of the first pipe 7 and to the thermostatic mixer 6, in particular to the intermediate container 9, through a third pipe 12 for transporting water of the public hydraulic network from the adapter 20 to the thermostatic mixer 6.

The adapter 20 further comprises a fourth pipe 14, preferably a serpentine, placed inside the second tank 21 and connected to the tank 2 by means of the second pipe 5, and to the thermostatic mixer 6 through a fifth pipe 15, on which the thermostatic valve 11 is placed, to transport boiling water going out of the tank 2 to the thermostatic mixer 6, in particular to the intermediate container 9.

In particular, boiling water coming from the tank 2, preferably at a temperature greater than 120 °C, enters the adapter 20 through the second pipe 5, crosses the fourth pipe 14, cooled by the flow of cold water coming from the first pipe 7 which enters in the second tank 21, and is cleaned of the steam residues, to then supply the thermostatic mixer 6 of the accumulation type, equipped with a probe-type thermostatic valve 11.

The amount of heat given by the hot water will therefore be transferred to cold water in the adapter 20 and afterwards recovered in the thermostatic mixer 6, thereby obtaining two more balanced temperatures in the two cold and hot inlet pipes of the thermostatic mixer 6, and namely in the third pipe 12 for transporting cold water and in the fifth pipe 15 for transporting boiling water .

Advantageously, the adapter 20 for thermostatic valves can be useful for other applications. For example, in many tropical countries, solar plants with natural circulation are used, which reach very high temperatures and have the problem of requiring the use of high- quality thermostatic valve with specifications of entry of hot water till 110 °C and peaks till 120°C. By placing the adapter 20 before the thermostatic valve, it will be able to drive cheaper thermostatic valves with more common entry specifications .

The adapter 20 of the device 10 of the invention can be advantageously embedded in a thermostatic mixer, extending its entry specifications to much higher temperatures with respect to common thermostatic valves of a known type.

In the operation of the device 10 for obtaining heated water of the invention, during the first filling of water in the installation step, all air will be expelled from the tank 2 by an air venting valve 26, placed in the upper part of the tank 2. Filling of the tank 2 with water occurs through a cold water entry solenoid valve 27, placed in the lower part of the tank 2 next to the first pipe 7 connected to the public hydraulic network, and driven by a unit 30 which controls the water level by means of sensors 29 connected to an external level -detecting tube 28. The maximum level being reached will take into account the water expansion depending on the temperature, in order to leave a space in the upper part as cushion for the steam.

In the operation during Sabbaths, when all electric devices are turned off (apart from the heat exchanger to compensate the thermal dispersion) , it will be useful that the external level -detecting tube 28 is transparent, for example made of PTFE, to display the water level.

For example, the device 10 for obtaining heated water can be connected to a timer which, when Sabbath is passed, activates the unit 30, to fill the tank 2 by driving the cold water entry solenoid valve 27.

Filling of the tank 2 can be complete or partial and this can be controlled by a microcontroller depending on family needs. During the operation on working days, it is possible to connect a meter to a flow sensor, which enables the cold water supply, through the cold water entry solenoid valve 27, a bit at a time, always depending on withdrawn water and in compliance with the amount of water used by users. A level -limiting tube 24 will leave a small reserve of boiling water, which will increase its level when entering water in the supplies of cold water from below. This ensures an almost constant and acceptable output of outlet boiling water.

In an embodiment, the device 10 for obtaining heated water of the invention, shown in Figure 3, comprises two water tanks, for example obtained by dividing a single tank into two parts: the tank 2 containing boiling water and steam, and the second tank 21 which operates as adapter 20 to accumulate water at temperatures lower than 45°C.

Similarly to the previously described adapter 20, the second tank 21 is hydraulically connected to the public hydraulic network by means of the first pipe 7 and to the thermostatic mixer 6 through a third pipe 12 for transporting water of the public hydraulic network from the second tank 21 to the thermostatic mixer 6.

The second tank 21 further comprises a radiator 22 placed therein and hydraulically connected to the tank 2 by means of the second pipe 5, and to the thermostatic mixer 6 through a fifth pipe 15, on which the thermostatic valve 11 is placed, to transport boiling water going out of the tank 2 to the thermostatic mixer 6.

In particular, boiling water coming from the tank 2 crosses the radiator 22 of the second tank 21 from top to bottom, supplying the thermostatic valve 11; in compliance with Jewish rules, it is important that hot water always descends downwards and does not follow upward paths, in order to avoid mixing by convection with the already cooled water below. The radiator 22 is immersed in the cold water present in the second tank 21, which circulates supplying the entry of cold water of the thermostatic mixer 6 after having been pre-heated in the second tank 21.

In a preferred way, a tap 31 is provided for withdrawing hot water for kitchen use (for example to prepare teas) connected to the radiator 22 through a sixth pipe 16, to withdraw water at a temperature scarcely lower than 100 °C and therefore lacking steam. The amount of heat given by the radiator 22 during withdrawals of boiling water is accumulated in the cold water contained in the second tank 21, till it reaches the temperature of 45 °C. A probe 1 provided in the second tank 21, for example a bulb-type probe, detecting the maximum temperature of 45 °C, closes a second thermostatic valve 33 assembled on the sixth pipe 16, preventing withdrawing hot water from the tap 31 for kitchen use .

This in compliance with the Sabbath rule which forbids heating water at a temperature greater than 45 °C. For a new withdrawal of boiling water, it will be necessary to open a user tap connected to the outlet 8 of the thermostatic mixer 6, allowing that enough cold water flows in the second tank 21. The thermostatic valve 11, when in the third pipe 12 for entering cold water the temperature reaches 45°C, closes the fifth pipe 15 for entering hot water coming from the radiator 22, withdrawing water exclusively from the third pipe 12 for entering cold water connected to the second tank 21 whose water has already reached 45°C.

When the water temperature drops below 45°C, the second thermostatic valve 33 opens, again allowing to withdraw boiling water for kitchen use from the tap 31.

The radiator 22 and the second tank 21 are sized to that, only with the withdrawal of users water, the temperature of water contained therein is much lower than 45°C. The second thermostatic valve 33, controlled by the bulb probe 1, is used to prevent that many consecutive withdrawals of boiling water from the suitable tap 31, exceed the maximum allowable temperature of Sabbaths equal to 45°C and also the maximum allowable temperature for entering cold water of the thermostatic mixer 6 (also calibrated during working days at temperatures next to 45°C) .

In an embodiment, the device 10 for obtaining heated water of the invention, shown in Figure 4, comprises two options for withdrawing dry steam through suitable dry steam taps 32, for example a small tube, used to heat beverages or to prepare hot foamy milk for a cappuccino. The dry tap steam 32 is connected to the upper part 2a of the tank 2, or is connected to a demister 35 directly supplied by the second outlet pipe 5 of boiling water of the tank 2, at a temperature greater than 120 °C, between the second pipe 5 and the serpentine 14 of the adapter 20 of Figures 1 and 2, or between the second pipe 5 and the radiator 22 of Figure 3. Such dry tap steam 32 also takes care of mechanically handling a water discharge valve 36 assembled in the lower part of the demister 35. Said water discharge valve 36 can also be of a type with pressure limit, instead of being directly driven by the tap 32.

When steam is taken from the upper part 2a of the tank 2, a pressure lowering is generated, which in turn causes a lowering of the temperature which activates the thermostat. To solve this problem, the actuation of the thermostat is performed through a timer which periodically actuates the heat exchanger for an adequate period to compensate the thermal dispersion. The human action of opening the tap, with this solution, does not actuates the operation of the heat exchanger, because it is actuated by the timer.

Alternatively, SSR can be used, controlled with 4 -20mA current variation, to actuate the thermostat. The SSR supplies the heat exchanger 25 proportionally to the temperature detected by a probe connected to a PID controller. The control is not therefore of the ON-OFF type, but continuative and of the integrative derivative type, so that there are no interruptions, but the heat exchanger 25 is continuously supplied at a suitable power for the current temperature. The human action does not therefore cause the turning on of the heat exchanger 25, but the increase or decrease of the power applied thereto.

When the steam withdrawal is performed in the lower part of the tank 2 through the demister 35, the human action does not cause the actuation of the heat exchanger 25 and the simple keeping of the temperature is enough, compensating the thermal dispersion through the use of constantly supplied resistances with a small power.

Advantageously, this solution does not create overloads, since the power for compensating the thermal dispersion is minimum and constant.